Pontville School

Pontville School Black Moss Lane, Ormskirk, Lancashire L39 4TW

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Inspection dates 11 and 12 December 2024

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 7 to 7(b), 32(1)(c)  A significant minority of pupils say that they do not feel safe at school. Bullying, prejudiced behaviour, threats of violence and physical aggression are commonplace. Pupils have little confidence that staff will support them if they raise a concern. Because of this, many pupils do not tell staff about their experiences.  Leaders have not ensured that all staff employed by the school have a clear understanding of how to raise a concern about a pupil, should they need to. Some staff do not know who they should direct any concerns to and are unclear about the precise vulnerabilities of pupils attending the school. Consequently, when staff have concerns, these are not always reported in a timely or appropriate manner and, in some cases, not at all.  When concerns about the appropriateness of staff are raised with leaders, these are

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Main inspection findings

not always recorded accurately, or acted on. Consequently, while the school is beginning to resolve this shortcoming, the work done to ensure that the staff working with pupils do not pose a risk is not sufficient to ensure pupils are kept safe from harm.  Some pupils receive or witness restrictive physical intervention frequently. In some cases, pupils are held by staff in restrictive physical interventions multi-times per day. Pupils told inspectors that observing these restraints as frequently as they do causes emotional distress and leaves them feeling unsafe.  The school does not keep accurate records of all restrictive physical interventions that take place across the school, despite this being a requirement of the school’s policy. For example, some records do not outline the specific hold that pupils are placed in. When pupils are held, the school is not doing enough to understand the triggers to

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Main inspection findings

the behaviour shown by pupils. Together, this limits leaders’ ability to learn from incidents that do occur and reduce the likelihood of such an incident occurring again. Consequently, for some pupils, being physically restrained by staff has become an almost daily occurrence.  The proprietor has completed the necessary checks to ensure that adults at the school are suitable to work with children. The school has a single central record. It records all of the required pre-employment checks accurately.  The school has a suitable safeguarding policy that reflects current statutory requirements and is available on the school’s website.  These independent school standards (‘the standards’) are not met. Paragraphs 9, 9(b), 9(c) and 10  Too many pupils do not have a positive learning experience at Pontville School. A significant minority of pupils misbehave around school. Where this happens, staff do not deal with this consistently well. The school has not done enough to ensure that all

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Main inspection findings

staff address the poor behaviour of pupils effectively.  Too often, pupils do not treat each other with respect, and do not understand well enough why this is not acceptable. Some pupils experience frequent harassment, bullying and prejudiced behaviour. Being the victim of such behaviours has become normalised for too many. They do not report these concerns to staff because they feel their experiences are, at times, downplayed or ignored.  The school keeps a record of the sanctions imposed for incidents of poor behaviour. However, some of these records are inaccurate and many lack sufficient detail. As a result, the school is unable to review the practice of staff and provide support and guidance to staff where needed.  Pupils who need support in managing their behaviour do not get the help they need. They receive too many sanctions, too frequently. The school does not do enough to help these pupils better understand and manage their own emotions.

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Main inspection findings

 These standards are not met. Paragraphs 11, 14, 16 to 16(b)  Too often, staff are injured as a result of the behaviour of some pupils. When this happens, leaders do not always follow their own health and safety policy. Records of injuries sustained by staff while at work lack detail, and do not align with requirements set out in the school’s policy. For example, witness statements from all employees present at the time of the injury are not captured. As a result, the school is unable to take effective action to reduce the likelihood of further incidents.  While some pupils have individual risk assessments relating to their behaviour, these are not consistently followed by staff. Consequently, little is done to minimise the risk some pupils pose to themselves or others. When incidents of serious misbehaviour occur, the school does not update pupils’ risk assessments to better reflect the most recent information leaders have about a pupil.

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor has not ensured that all staff have the knowledge and experience they need to manage the behaviour of pupils well enough. Consequently, staff do not consistently provide appropriate care and supervision to all pupils. This leaves pupils and staff at risk of harm.  These standards are not met. Paragraphs 9(a) and 15  The school has an appropriate behaviour policy in place. This sets out the possible sanctions in the event of any misbehaviour.  The school works well with local authorities and other external agencies to provide support to families to help overcome barriers to pupils’ good attendance. While many pupils struggle to attend as often as they should, for most pupils, their attendance improves well during their time here. However, despite this work, some pupils remain disengaged from their learning for too long. This holds pupils back.  The proprietor ensures that an admission and attendance register is maintained in

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Main inspection findings

accordance with the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024.  These standards are met. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraph 33 to 33(k)  The school has adopted the Witherslack Group complaints policy. This policy is in writing and parents and carers can access it via the school’s website. The policy details how complaints can be made on a formal and informal basis, including the timescales for the management of these complaints. The school keeps a log of all complaints that have been made to the school.  However, at the time of this emergency inspection, the proprietor had failed to put in place a sufficient level of independence when complaints reach the final stage of investigation. The standards require formal complaints at stage 3 to be considered by a panel, one member of which should be independent to the leadership and management of the school. Inspectors found that the Witherslack Group’s complaints

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Main inspection findings

policy did not include this requirement. This meant that if a complaints panel was ever convened at stage 3, the complaint may not have been considered by anyone impartial to the leadership of the school.  Prior to the publication of this report the Witherslack Group updated their complaints policy. The school has adopted it. It now ensures that, where there is a panel hearing of a complaint, one panel member is independent of the management and running of the school.  The school logs all complaints. It follows the complaints policy and paperwork is kept in line with the processes set out. In recent years, all complaints have been resolved at stage one of the policy.  These standards are met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  While leaders have taken recent steps to improve the quality of education and care provided at the school, there is much to be done to ensure that the school meets all

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Main inspection findings

of the independent school standards. The proprietor has not ensured that persons with leadership and management responsibilities demonstrate the skills and knowledge to fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the standards are met consistently.  The proprietor has not made sure that leaders and managers actively promote the well-being of pupils. The proprietor has been slow to act to stem the decline in standards of pupils’ behaviour across the school. It has not made sure that all staff receive the training or support they need to respond to any concerns of pupils’ welfare or incidents of poor behaviour effectively.  Many parents do not speak positively about the school or the support their children receive. They are concerned about the behaviour of pupils at the school and the lack of communication from the school. The school is aware of this and is working to resolve this shortcoming.  The standards in this part are not met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet the requirements of the schedule to The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that were checked during this inspection, as set out in the annex of this report. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

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School details

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

School category Independent residential special school

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School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 27

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £74,867 to £116,611

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School details

Website www.witherslackgroup.co.uk/pontville- school Email address pontville@witherslackgroup.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 20 to 22 June 2023

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Information about this school

 The school operates on two sites. The main school site is located at Black Moss Lane, Ormskirk, Lancashire L39 4TW. The second site is for the post-16 provision and is located at Paddock Road, off Pimbo Road, Skelmersdale, Lancashire WN8 9PL.  The school caters for pupils and students with a range of special educational needs and/or disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder and speech language and communication needs. All pupils who attend the school have an education, health and care plan.  The school is part of the Witherslack Group which runs special schools and residential care across the UK.  The last full standard inspection was in June 2023. This was a standard inspection carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008. At this inspection, the school met all of the independent school standards that were checked. The school was judged to be good at this time.

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Information about this school

 The school is registered to admit up to 155 pupils.  Leaders make use of two providers of unregistered alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) as a result of a number of concerns raised about the school and the Witherslack Group in general. This was one of a number of inspections carried out at the same time.  The inspection was conducted without notice.  Inspectors focused on the school’s safeguarding procedures and how pupils are kept safe, behaviour and how the school manages behaviour, how complaints are managed and leadership and management.  Inspectors met with the headteacher, the deputy headteacher, the designated safeguarding leader and other school leaders.  Inspectors spoke to groups of staff, both formally and informally.  Inspectors took account of the views shared by pupils during informal discussions.  Inspectors met with representatives of the Witherslack Group, including the chief operating officer, the regional director and the operations manager.

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Information about this inspection

 To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspectors: reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  Inspectors considered the views of parents submitted via Ofsted Parent View, including the free-text comments. Inspectors also considered the responses to Ofsted’s online survey for school staff.

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Inspection team

Alexander Laney, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Simon Hollingsworth His Majesty’s Inspector

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  9 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor promotes good behaviour amongst pupils by ensuring that- – 9(b) the policy is implemented effectively; and – 9(c) a record is kept of the sanctions imposed upon pupils for serious misbehaviour.  10 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that bullying at the school is prevented in so far as reasonably practicable, by the drawing up and implementation of an effective anti-bullying strategy.  11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 14 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that pupils are properly supervised through the appropriate deployment of school staff.  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school- – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. guidance ‘Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/ofsted .

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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